Families feel at home in Frisco’s Panther Creek Estates

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Staff photo by CHRIS DERRETT/neighborsgo

Allie Donley (front right) crawls on the floor as her mother, Mary (back right), and other mothers meet for a play date in Panther Creek Estates. The neighborhood was rated the top area for families with children to live in Allen-Frisco-McKinney.

Kellie Kauten’s kindergartner and third-grader walk to and from school almost every day.

And with Sem Elementary less than a block from her home in Frisco’s Panther Creek Estates, she feels confident they will make it safely.

“You know all the parents, and they will watch as their own kids walk by,” Kauten said. “Plus all of the kids will all walk by each other on their way to school.”

According to a recent survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News, the portion of land north of Eldorado Parkway, south of Panther Creek Parkway, east of Hillcrest Road and west of Coit Road was rated the top area for families with children in Allen, Frisco and McKinney.

In The News’ analysis, scores were based on factors that families with children reported as most important. Safety was the most heavily weighted, followed by schools and affordability.

Nestled in the center of the area is Panther Creek Estates. To Bill Woodard, parent and Panther Creek Estates Homeowner’s Association president, the neighborhood’s ranking was not surprising.

“I believe we are predominantly families,” Woodard said. “Right now, our neighborhood is the only one that goes to Sem Elementary, which makes us even tighter.”

Panther Creek Estates has three neighborhood parks, a green belt, community center and a neighborhood pool.

Throughout the year, HOA committees will host neighborhood events, including the opening of the community pool, which Woodard said is the largest event of the year.

“There is a lot of interaction among the community,” he said. “And these social events help you to get to know your neighbors. So it helps with safety because we can ask people to keep an eye on everyone.”

Woodard said currently there are 950 to 1,000 homes built, with 100 more expected to be built in the coming years.

And with the increase in population comes an uptick in active residential groups ranging from running clubs to moms groups.

For residents like Ashley Lincoln, a mother of three who had twin boys six months ago, the moms group has worked its way into her routine.

“It is a good group,” said Lincoln, who lives across the street from the Kautens. “We get together and let our children play, and we get to visit.”

Other areas on the Top 10 list for families with children in Allen, Frisco and McKinney include several communities east of Preston Road, and north of State Highway 121 in east Frisco. All are located close to one another as well as schools, transportation conduits, greenbelts and recreational facilities.

Jared Walker, the president of Hillcrest-Lebanon Homeowner’s Association in Frisco, which is located in the No. 4-ranked area, said he moved to the area after doing research and finding it would be the best place for him and his wife to raise their 7- and 8-year-old children.

His kids walk to Smith Elementary School almost every day.

“We have outstanding schools,” Walker said. “City services are fantastic, and we are a hop, skip and jump from everything in Frisco.”

Turnbridge Manor HOA secretary and resident Curtis Shaw, who has both a sixth-grade student and a fourth-grade student, said he enjoys the tight-knit community the neighborhood provides.

He said since moving to the neighborhood 10 years ago, he has watched it grow to about 200 homes. Isbell Elementary was also built when Turnbridge Manor was built and is centrally located in the neighborhood.

“We strive to make connections and friends groups and cliques so everyone knows who everybody is,” Shaw said. “So that way, when kids are walking around or goofing off, we know who they are and what they are about.”

According to Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, the growth of Frisco ISD has been a good indicator as to the growth of the Frisco population.

“The schools have grown from five to 56 [campuses] in the past 15 years, if that tells you anything,” Maso explained.

And the numbers don’t lie.

Maso cited a census study showing Frisco’s growth from a population of 33,000 in the year 2000 to 116,000 in 2010, with about 2,000 new residential permits added each year.

And of those 116,000 residents, 67 percent are married couples, and the median age is 34 years.

“No. 1, we have some of the best schools in the country here, and families want education for their children,” Maso said. “And two, is public safety. We have programs that promote being a safe city and community.”

Kauten said because of these key reasons, she does not foresee her family moving from the Frisco area any time in the future.

“We have scheduled events, play dates. We go to parks, or to the pool,” Kauten said. “We do mom’s night out. Guaranteed there is always something in our neighborhood that will be going on.”

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